Susan B. Griffith: 'The Sign of Jonah': Representation of Jonah in patristic exegesis and early Christian art

The Minor Prophets held significant status in early Christian exegesis, and in particular the fathers commented on and cited Jonahmore often, relative to its brevity, than much of the rest of the Old Testament, apart from Genesis, Psalms, and Isaiah. As evidence of the popularity of the narrative, artistic portrayals of the prophet and his journey appear more frequently in the first few centuries than any other Old Testament topic. The prophet's remarkable tale also generated controversy in the wider community over its more fantastic elements. The varieties of Christian interpretation of this text illustrate vividly in microcosm broader trends in patristic exegesis. This communication will assess the way in which Jonah is represented in both the commentary tradition as well as the surrounding material culture.